Boxing: It’s time for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Manny Pacquiao

By KEITH IDEC

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

There was a man in Las Vegas, a viewer invested much more than those who simply paid $70, who should’ve loved what he saw from Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night.

That man can cash in on Pacquiao’s performance like no one else in the world, for perhaps as much as $60 million. That still might not be enough incentive to change the mind of Floyd Mayweather Jr., but it should.

Just know that if Mayweather doesn’t at least entertain talks to finally make Mayweather-Pacquiao a reality after he defeats huge underdog Marcos Maidana on May 3 in Las Vegas, it’ll provide indisputable evidence that Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) never was genuinely interested in facing the Filipino legend. Mayweather witnessed what we all saw Saturday night: that this version of Pacquiao is very good, yet nothing reminiscent of the mesmerizing phenomenon who once was too fast and too powerful even for elite-level opponents.

Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) soundly defeated Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand, gaining revenge for losing a controversial decision in their first fight in June 2012. Pacquiao got the unanimous decision he earned this time, but just wasn’t as impressive as he was when Bradley (31-1, 12KOs, 1 NC) won the first bout, nor in many of the other noteworthy wins that made him one of the most entertaining, effective fighters of this generation.

Mayweather remains the best boxer in the world, and by a large margin. Pacquiao, though still dangerous, shouldn’t intimidate him.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter and Mayweather’s nemesis, told anyone who would listen after the Pacquiao-Bradley bout that he is more than willing to begin negotiations for a long-awaited Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown in the fall.

Mayweather would be well within reason now to demand more money than Pacquiao. He has proven over the past two years to be the better fighter, the greater gate attraction and the more productive pay-per-view attraction. If that can be the starting point for their negotiations – and yes, that’s a potentially insurmountable if – Mayweather, 37, shouldn’t hesitate to pursue Pacquiao, 35, as his next opponent.

The undefeated five-division champion doesn’t have many attractive alternatives, and definitely not one with whom he could make more money. If a $60 million payday and this beyond-beatable version of Pacquiao aren’t enough to entice him, what will?

Boxing: It’s time for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Manny Pacquiao

By KEITH IDEC

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

There was a man in Las Vegas, a viewer invested much more than those who simply paid $70, who should’ve loved what he saw from Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night.

That man can cash in on Pacquiao’s performance like no one else in the world, for perhaps as much as $60 million. That still might not be enough incentive to change the mind of Floyd Mayweather Jr., but it should.

Just know that if Mayweather doesn’t at least entertain talks to finally make Mayweather-Pacquiao a reality after he defeats huge underdog Marcos Maidana on May 3 in Las Vegas, it’ll provide indisputable evidence that Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) never was genuinely interested in facing the Filipino legend. Mayweather witnessed what we all saw Saturday night: that this version of Pacquiao is very good, yet nothing reminiscent of the mesmerizing phenomenon who once was too fast and too powerful even for elite-level opponents.

Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) soundly defeated Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand, gaining revenge for losing a controversial decision in their first fight in June 2012. Pacquiao got the unanimous decision he earned this time, but just wasn’t as impressive as he was when Bradley (31-1, 12KOs, 1 NC) won the first bout, nor in many of the other noteworthy wins that made him one of the most entertaining, effective fighters of this generation.

Mayweather remains the best boxer in the world, and by a large margin. Pacquiao, though still dangerous, shouldn’t intimidate him.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter and Mayweather’s nemesis, told anyone who would listen after the Pacquiao-Bradley bout that he is more than willing to begin negotiations for a long-awaited Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown in the fall.

Mayweather would be well within reason now to demand more money than Pacquiao. He has proven over the past two years to be the better fighter, the greater gate attraction and the more productive pay-per-view attraction. If that can be the starting point for their negotiations – and yes, that’s a potentially insurmountable if – Mayweather, 37, shouldn’t hesitate to pursue Pacquiao, 35, as his next opponent.

The undefeated five-division champion doesn’t have many attractive alternatives, and definitely not one with whom he could make more money. If a $60 million payday and this beyond-beatable version of Pacquiao aren’t enough to entice him, what will?